By: Mark Glennon*
These stories got the most page views on this site over the past year. This is perhaps a bit distorted towards more recent ones because our readership is increasing rapidly, but property taxes and pensions clearly are the biggest issues for readers here. Rightly so:
#1 Suicidal Property Tax Rates and the Collapse of Chicago’s South Suburbs
#2 Reality Shock: The Highest Property Tax Rates in Cook and Its Collar Counties
#3 New Workers Subsidizing Illinois’ Surging $100,000/year Pension Club
#4 Open mic delivers priceless audio sample of Chicago area government culture
#5 The ‘Tier 2’ Pension Mess in Illinois
#6 Bloated Pensions for Many Will Mean Retirement Hardship for Some in Illinois, But How Many?
#8 Salary and Pension Hikes Far Beyond Inflation Account for Most of Chicago Property Tax Raise
#9 Illinois Taxpayers Are Guarantying 7.5% Return On Savings Account For Certain Pensioners
#10 New warning from S&P for Chicago: Read it carefully
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.